"I WAS OFFERED PREMIERSHIP POST TO POSTPONE ELECTIONS" -- CILLER ANKARA, AUG 26 (KUNA) -- LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION TRUE PATH PARTY IN TURKEY, TANSU CILLER SAID MONDAY THAT THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TURKISH PREMIER, BULENT ECEVIT OFFERED HER THE PREMIERSHIP POST IN RETURN FOR POSTPONING THE EARLY ELECTIONS, DUE ON NOVEMBER 3.
CILLER SAID IN PRESS STATEMENTS THAT SHE REFUSED THE OFFER, STRESSING THE NECESSITY OF HOLDING THE ELECTIONS AS SCHEDULED AND WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT ECEVIT'S OFFER REVEALS HIS FEAR OF THE EARLY ELECTION RESULTS FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN WITNESSED AND WHICH SHOOK HIS PARTY. THIS WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY'S POLL RESULTS, WHERE SHE EXPECTS HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO WIN 10 PERCENT OF THE VOTES TO ENTER THE PARLIAMENT IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.
MEANWHILE, THE LEADER OF THE ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY, RECAI KUTAN DENIED THAT HIS PARTY IS PREPARING FOR A COALITION WITH THE KURDISH PEOPLE'S DEMOCRACY PARTY.
KUTAN SAID THAT HIS PARTY WILL RUN THE ELECTIONS ALL BY ITS OWN AND ITS REFUSES A COALITION WITH ANY PARTY, INCLUDING ISLAMIC ONES.
PUBLIC POLLS IN TURKEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THE WELFARE PARTY WILL ALSO NOT BE ABLE TO WIN 10 PERCENT OF THE VOTES TO ENTER THE PARLIAMENT IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS DUE TO THE BREAKUP IT EXPERIENCED.
THIS BREAKUP RESULTED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY, HEADED BY RECEP TEYYIP ERDOGAN, WHOSE PARTY IS EXPECTED TO WIN FIRST PLACE IN THE ELECTIONS. (END) MAA.SI KUNA 261341 Aug 02NNNN